Sidney Gendin

GENDIN, SIDNEY, DR. (1934-2013) Fond of telling students, "the ungrammatical life is not worth living," Dr. Sidney Gendin, Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Michigan University for 35 years, passed away unexpectedly in his home in Ann Arbor, MI, on August 21, 2013. Born January 3, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, he refused to abandon his Brooklyn accent. Sid graduated from Brooklyn College with a B.A. in 1955 and New York University with a Ph.D. in 1965. He served in the National Guard and Army Reserves. Sidney is survived by his wife, JoEllen Vinyard, and daughter, Margo (Gendin) Hart; grandchildren Sophia and Jeffery Hart, and Hayden, Brody, and Anika Vinyard. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Natalie (Hauser) Gendin and son, Stephen Gendin. He was passionate about many things during his lifetime, including animal rights, ethics, gay rights, politics, sports (especially track and field), and movies. You would often find him listening to classical music, debating the merits of some latest study, taking up a new hobby like the harmonica, or trying to improve his trophy-winning bench press record. Burial will be at Arborcrest Memorial Park in Ann Arbor. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 PM on the Eastern Michigan University campus at the Olds-Robb Student Recreation Center. The family requests that any donations go to
, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Brooklyn College, or a
. He was a loyal friend who would want to be forever in the thoughts of his family and friends, remembered as the most unique man we may ever know. Sidney Gendin was always larger than life; so it must remain.